Brathwaite, Chanderpaul assist West Indies maintain sway on rain-curtailed day

Both openers raised their respective half-centuries, with the guests reaching 112 for 0 on the finish of day one.

Chanderpaul, Brathwaite grind Zimbabwe

The Bulawayo floor appeared dry from the outset and with variable bounce usually coming into play, each Chanderpaul and Brathwaite took the safety-first method. Chanderpaul solely received off the mark with the nineteenth ball he confronted, though that did not imply he was in any bother. In truth, he was pretty stable regardless of some probing Zimbabwe bowling.

Brathwaite, then again, was overwhelmed on the skin edge a number of occasions. There was additionally an opportunity within the twentieth over when he appeared to glove a short-of-a-length Richard Ngarava supply to the wicketkeeper. The fielders went up in unison, however the umpire remained unmoved, and there was no DRS in place to problem the choice.

The Zimbabwe bowlers stored bowling across the channel exterior off, however have been met with staunch protection from each batters. Even when the ball began to maintain low, Brathwaite and Chanderpaul remained unfazed.

The runs got here in instalments within the first session, with West Indies scoring solely 54 runs in 27 overs. Zimbabwe may have struck straight after the break however the debutant wicketkeeper, Tafadzwa Tsiga, mistimed his bounce. Brad Evans, additionally on debut, had secured Chanderpaul’s edge with a fast bouncer. Tsiga sprung to his proper, however was late in getting his glove up because the ball raced away to the fence. Chanderpaul adopted that up with a punchy sq. drive and appeared way more fluent within the second session.

Soon, although, the skies opened up, early tea was taken and it didn’t take lengthy for play to be known as off for the remainder of the day.